Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan country, remained hidden from the world until it elected to make its world debut in the
1960s with the release of innovative postage stamps created by a pioneering, unconventional American
entrepreneur, Burt Kerr Todd.

Burt with backpack

Burt & Susie Todd on honeymoon
in Bhutan 1954

In 1954, Burt and Susie Todd went on their
honeymoon to Bhutan, where they stayed for 3
months and cemented a lifelong friendship with the
Bhutanese as well as a love for this extraordinary
country. This close relationship was the inspiration
behind Todd’s work to help Bhutan open its doors to
the world through the release of Bhutan's first
international postage stamp program.

Following his entrepreneurial spirit, Todd
crisscrossed the globe to find new materials and
printing facilities suitable for stamps never conceived
of before. He worked hand in hand with Bhutan
where post offices needed to be built and a postal
system put in place to be ready for its first
international release of stamps. Bhutan had an
airmail stamp before it even had an airport!

In the 1960s and 1970s, Bhutan set about making a
series of “firsts” with each issue of Bhutanese
stamps developed by Todd – the first
three-dimensional lenticular stamps, relief and
sculptural stamps, as well as silk, steel, scented,
and even a talking stamp on a miniature record that
played the history of the country when spun on a
record player. Bhutan stamps for years created an
important source of revenue for the country, which
aided in the development of Bhutan’s first electrical
power, hospitals and road systems. Bhutan stamps
continue today to feature the country’s rich traditions
and culture.

The legacy of Bhutan's unmatched innovation in stamps and the Todd connection has been renewed through Burt Todd's daughter and her family. Following her father's death, Frances Todd Stewart took his last idea - to create the world's first CD-ROM postage stamp - and has formally partnered with Bhutan to produce these unique issues for their 2008/2009 release.

In leading Bhutan wisely for the past 100 years, the royal Wangchuck family has consistently and proactively
maintained the preservation of Bhutan’s traditions and culture as a priority. Recently, the 4th King, His Majesty
Jigme Singye Wangchuck, showed his faith in the people by announcing that it would be in the best interest of
the country if it transitioned to a parliamentary democracy. In 2007, he then handed over his leadership
responsibilities to his royal heir, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, whose energetic and mature outlook
will guide Bhutan during this challenging era.

Through the medium of the CD-ROM, the stamp series will visually commemorate on video and thus preserve
in perpetuity, some of Bhutan's most historic events: the 100th anniversary of the monarchy, the coronation of
the 5th king, and Bhutan’s evolution to an emerging democracy and its signing of the new Constitution.

On many levels this story is one of living legacies, and these stamps offer a small yet precious window into
the mystical kingdom of Bhutan. An auspicious light will be shining on Bhutan in 2008 for all to see and hear
as Bhutan transported its big messages on tiny CD-ROM stamps.